5 Common Health Conditions Affected by Screen Time

It’s September, which means back to school. As physically active as you may have been during the summer months, it’s safe to say that most of you who are back in the dorms and the classroom will be spending a lot of time on the computer.

Without aging myself, I remember the internet was a rather novel entity when I was in college. It was a treat to be able to use it when living in the dorms. Wifi and Bluetooth didn’t exist; only scarce computer labs that we had to fight for time on. Most of us still hit the good ole library to research our school projects. We also used typewriters to type reports, and only if it was required.

It’s now the 21^st Century, and time has surely changed. We spend almost every waking moment attached at the hip to our smart phones, tablets, and computers. College campuses, restaurants, coffee shops, shopping centers, amusement parks, and libraries now all include wifi.  Even my 80-something year old parents have tablets and Facebook accounts. A world without computers is a strange one to contemplate.

But with it also come a slew of new health disorders that have been on the rise. I see them almost daily. What are the most common medical conditions doctors see related to this increased screen time? And what can you do to negate it all to protect your health?

5 Common Health Conditions Affected by Screen Time

1.  Eye health

Glaring at a computer all day long will certainly affect your staring eyes, right? And it does. Eye fatigue is more common now than ever. Besides discomfort, it can also cause the eye muscles to twitch as a result. It can also contribute to dry eyes, a condition that can cause irritation, inflammation, and even pain. Staring at a screen can also cause headaches in some, especially if you are sensitive to the screen light.

What can you do to combat this?

• Take eye breaks frequently – give your eyes a break throughout the day by taking your eyes off of the screen and look around at your surroundings
•  Use artificial tears multiple times a day, especially if you suffer from dry eyes or your eyes twitch
• Keep a safe distance from the screen. Try to avoid getting too close, or too far. If you are squinting, you either need an eye exam or the screen is not set at a proper distance
• Wear your eye correction. Don’t skimp out on the glasses or lenses your eye...

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